Truck Accident Lawyer Tampa, FL

Truck Accident Lawyer Tampa, FL

A truck accident lawyer in Tampa, FL at Jeff Murphy Law Firm understands that when people are involved in a truck crash, it is not the same as being in a collision between two passenger vehicles. Trucks can weigh up to a hefty 80,000 pounds when fully stocked while the average passenger vehicle can weigh a measly 3,500 pounds in comparison. True devastation can occur, along with tragic fatalities.

Not only can truck accidents be more severe, but they can be more complicated than your standard vehicle accident. That is why we encourage victims of truck accidents to talk with a Tampa, FL truck accident lawyer right away for help.

Determining Fault

When it comes to truck accidents, a truck accident lawyer in Tampa, FL, is aware that there may be more than one entity who is responsible for what happened. For instance, the truck parts manufacturer could have made a flawed product, or the trucking company failed to uphold proper maintenance of the truck itself. But of course, there is always the chance that the trucker committed careless mistakes which led to the tragic truck collision.

Common Causes of Truck Accidents

In most cases, truck accidents happen due to truck driver error. Anyone who has been in a truck accident must get emergency medical care right away. Your truck accident lawyer in Tampa, FL, knows that the chances of the driver and passengers in the standard vehicle sustaining no injuries at all are quite slim. We advise being seen by a doctor that very same day for a thorough examination. After getting care, be sure to request copies and then share them with your truck accident lawyer in Tampa, FL, at Jeff Murphy Law Firm. Here is a list of some of the most common ways truckers cause these accidents to unfold:

Trucker Fatigue: it isn’t safe for truckers to drive for extended periods in one sitting. However, many do anyway, despite the impact of sleep deprivation.

Reckless Driving: a truck driver that fails to follow traffic laws can put others who are driving nearby in danger. Truck accidents can happen due to excessive speeding, changing lanes abruptly, and following cars too closely.

Falsifying Driving Records: truckers are required by law to write in logbooks as a way to keep a record of how many hours they drive and whether they are taking sufficient breaks. However, Tampa, FL truck accident lawyers have seen many truckers falsify these books to get ahead of schedule without being reprimanded by their employer.

Under the Influence: truck drivers may use alcohol or turn to drug use as a method of coping with their lifestyle and being away from loved ones for so long. Sadly, these habits can quickly lead to a deadly crash in which they may be responsible for paying damages to the surviving family.

Truck accidents are not something to shrug off. Victims of such accidents may be entitled to significant financial compensation, so please do not handle this alone. Contact a Tampa, FL truck accident lawyer at Jeff Murphy Law Firm as soon as possible for a thorough case evaluation.

Your Guide to Truck Accident Cases

Truck accident cases are common lawsuits. These occur when someone suffers an injury as a result of someone else’s actions or negligence. When it comes to receiving compensation for an injury, do you know what to ask for? Here is information from a Tampa, FL truck accident lawyer of what you need to know about truck accident cases and compensation.

Truck Accident Cases Determined by Compensatory Damages

Typically, a truck accident case will be compensatory. This means that you receive compensation for what you lost during the accident or because of the injury. Compensation is supposed to help the victim become complete again, which can be difficult considering this means the court will assign a dollar amount to the damages that were suffered. Proof of medical bills or property damage will play a key role in proving your need for compensation. A Tampa, FL truck accident lawyer will determine a monetary value for pain and suffering or the physical limitations that you suffer due to an injury.

Some of the compensatory damages in truck accident cases are as follows:

Property loss

Medical treatment

Income

Loss of enjoyment

Emotional distress

Loss of consortium

Loss of enjoyment, emotional distress, and loss of consortium are challenging to quantify. However, if your injury caused you emotional distress, if it took a hobby or piece of enjoyment away from you, then you still may qualify for damages. Loss of consortium may be the impact the injury may have had on your family and relationship. A truck accident lawyer in Tampa, FL, will be able to determine if any of these losses apply to your case.

Punitive Damages Are Possible in Truck Accident Cases

Punitive damages are different from compensatory damages because they do not seek to make you whole again. If a Tampa, FL truck accident lawyer seeks punitive damages, and the court awards those damages, the purpose is to punish the plaintiff. For instance, if a person acts grossly negligent or poorly conducts him or herself, then this might lead to punitive damages. Most states, however, cap the amount that a person has to pay in punitive damages.

Truck accident cases come in all sizes. If you have suffered injuries in a truck accident, contact a truck accident lawyer Tampa, FL victims recommend from Jeff Murphy Law Firm to find out how we can help.

When Driver Fatigue causes a Truck Accident

When you see a trucker on the road, most people have a certain amount of respect for them. Our Tampa, FL truck accident lawyer, will share with you that many truckers work long hours and spend a lot of time alone driving from point A to point B. That said, those long hours that they put in are what can make the job so challenging. When you have a responsibility to do and need to get a supply to a factory on time, it can be easy for truck drivers to neglect breaks, avoid sleeping, and keep driving until they get to their destination. A truck accident lawyer Tampa, FL relies on knows that this can create a dangerous situation quickly, particularly for other drivers on the road. If you were in a motor vehicle and experienced injuries from a truck accident, you know just how serious an accident can be with a truck. Our Tampa, FL truck accident lawyer at Jeff Murphy Law wants to ensure you get the representation you need while seeking compensation.

What are the regulations on a truck driver’s work hours?

When one of our clients has been in an accident caused by a truck driver, one of the first things your Tampa, FL truck accident lawyer will look into is how many hours the truck driver worked. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has specific rules and standards that require a truck driver to take breaks during their work hours. For example, a truck driver is not supposed to drive longer than 11 hours without having at least a 10-hour break in between. This break is to give truck drivers ample time to recover and rest, so they are not fatigued when they drive. In another example, a truck driver is not supposed to drive a truck any longer than 60 hours in a week.

That said, our truck accident lawyers in Tampa, Florida, often find that truck drivers feel the need to go against these rules to “get the job done.”

The Log Book

When it comes to following the appropriate “hours worked” rules, though, many drivers do not. This is why truck drivers must maintain a logbook of their hours when they are working. Any Tampa, FL wrongful death lawyer will share with you that the logbook can be crucial when it comes to determining if a truck driver has falsified the hours they have worked based on the delivery they were making at the time.

Poor Hiring

Sometimes the trucking company may not do their due diligence when hiring. Poor hiring can occur when drivers are hired who have poor driving records, misdemeanors, or are improperly trained. As a result, it may be possible to bring a lawsuit against the trucking company. Your Tampa, FL, wrongful death lawyer knows that a trucking company owes it to their drivers and others on the road to put safe truck drivers on the road. Additionally, truck drivers must follow policies in place that ensure they do not become a danger on the road by driving fatigued.

If you were the victim in a truck accident and would like to receive compensation for your injuries, call the Tampa, FL truck accident lawyer you can depend on at Jeff Murphy Law.

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About Jeff Murphy Law

You need an attorney you can trust - one who understands that your case and your needs are unique, and one who will talk to you and give you honest answers to your legal questions. This is my philosophy, and that is what you deserve. Put my 29 years of trial and litigation experience to work for you.